Ecotonal marine regions – ecotonal parasite communities: helminth assemblages in the convergence of masses of water in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

With the aim of evaluating the utility of marine parasites as indicators of ecotonal regions in the marine environment, we analysed data on assemblages of long-lived larval parasites of Zenopsis conchifer inhabiting the region of convergence of three masses of water in the southwestern Atlantic Oceans. These masses of water with different origins are expected to affect the structure of parasite communities by acting as sources of infective stages of helminth species typical of adjacent zoogeographical regions. Multivariate analyses at both infracommunity and component community levels, including data of four other species recognised as harbouring parasite assemblages representatives of these zoogeographical regions, were carried out to corroborate the existence of repeatable distribution patterns and to provide further evidence of the utility of parasites as zoogeographic indicators in the region. Results showed a tight correspondence with the existing zoogeographical classification in the study region, namely two zoogeographical provinces, one of which is subdivided into two districts demonstrating the ecotonal nature of parasite assemblages from the convergence region, which were characterised by a species rich component community but depauperate and heterogeneous infracommunities. The borders of biological communities have been suggested as priority areas for conservation where a fully functioning ecosystem can be protected and parasite communities can be considered as reliable indicators to define such transitional regions.